Active Life Wellness Clubs, founded in Portugal in May 2005, is set to open four new health, fitness and spa clubs by the end of 2008, bringing its total membership to 15,000.

Scheduled to open in the second quarter this year is Active Life Porto – a 1,500sq m (16,150sq ft) club located in Trinidade in the centre of Porto. Special features at the club will include Kinesis by Technogym, a wide range of studio classes and a spa including Turkish baths and a sauna, with treatments by Thalgo. It will also offer physiotherapy services and nutrition consultants.

António Macias, president of Active Life, says: “Our arrival in Porto is, in fact, a great challenge for us as this is the second biggest city in Portugal.

“In addition, there are already several other health and fitness facilities around. However, we are confident in the uniqueness of our offer.”

Due to the city location, the club will focus on the corporate market. Monthly membership will cost €150 (£150), as is standard across the chain.

“We keep our membership fee high to control the member ratio and give members the feeling of belonging to an exclusive club,” says Macias.

“We want people to see their membership as a valuable asset.”

Active Life Torres Novas, built in partnership with construction company Aquacare, is due to open in the third quarter of this year.

It will offer Technogym equipment, two studios, a Swimming pool and a day spa. Each Active Life club has a specific target market according to its location, and the Torres Novas site – in an area that does not currently have a large provision of heath and fitness facilities – will focus on families.

The chain already operates Active Life Laranjeiras in Lisbon, which has 3,600 members, and Active Life Belas Clube de Campo, which is located on a private condominium in Sintra and has just 450 members. New clubs in Almada and Parque das Nacoes, in Lisbon, are set to open in 2008.

Macias adds: “Our goal is to contract four more clubs before the end of 2010, increasing our portfolio to 10 clubs and a projected membership of 35,000.”

Currently, Macias is also looking at potential partners within other industries, such as the hospitality sector, in order to grow the brand further – for example, by opening hotel health clubs.